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Biomedical subjects

N Suzuki

Publications and source records attributed to N Suzuki.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Purulent pericarditis due to group B streptococcus and mycotic aneurysm of the ascending aorta: case report.

A 61-year-old female, with a history of uterine and cervical cancer treated with radical hysterectomy and 2 years of postoperative chemotherapy, presented to the emergency department with dyspnea on exertion. Computed tomography of the chest revealed a large pericardial effusion and a sacciform aneurysm of the ascending aorta. The patient subsequently underwent emergency pericardiocentesis with drainage of approximately 330 ml of a bloody and turbid effusion. Cultures from the effusion yielded group B streptococcus. Multiple organ failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome occurred in the acute phase, but gradually improved with continuous antibiotic therapy. On the 194th hospital day, in situ reconstruction of the ascending aorta was successfully performed using a synthetic graft. Although rarely reported, both purulent bacterial pericarditis and mycotic aneurysm can be life-threatening.

Aneurysm, Infected↗
PubMed2000

Clinical effect of canal plugging on paroxysmal positional vertigo.

A 63-year-old woman had disabling positional vertigo for four months. She showed intense direction-changing apogeotropic nystagmus. Conservative treatment failed to resolve her vertigo. From the findings of the nystagmus, cupulolithiasis of the right lateral canal was suspected. Plugging of this canal successfully eliminated the nystagmus and positional vertigo. Positional vertigo can sometimes be disabling and unresponsive to conservative therapy. Careful analysis of the nystagmus may allow selection of the most appropriate treatment.

Female↗
PubMed2000

Sensitization by wortmannin of heat- or X-ray induced cell death in cultured Chinese hamster V79 cells.

Here we found that wortmannin sensitized Chinese hamster V79 cells to hyperthermic treatment at 44.0 degrees C as determined either by colony formation assay or by dye exclusion assay. Wortmannin enhanced heat-induced cell death accompanying cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARP). Additionally, the induction of heat shock protein HSP70 was suppressed and delayed in wortmannin-treated cells. Heat sensitizing effect of wortmannin was obvious at more than 5 or 10 microM of final concentrations, while radiosensitization was apparent at 5 microM. Requirement for high concentration of wortmannin, i.e., order of microM, suggests a possible role of certain protein kinases, such as DNA-PK and/or ATM among PI3-kinase family. The sensitization was minimal when wortmannin was added at the end of heat treatment. This was similar to the case of X-ray. Since heat-induced cell death and PARP cleavage preceded HSP70 induction phenomenon, the sensitization to the hyperthermic treatment was considered mainly caused by enhanced apoptotic cell death rather than secondary to suppression or delay by wortmannin of HSP70 induction. Further, in the present system radiosensitization by wortmannin was also at least partly mediated through enhancement of apoptotic cell death.

Androstadienes↗
PubMed2000

Protein analysis of Babesia caballi merozoites by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blotting.

Babesia caballi merozoites were prepared by combining two improved methods of cultivation and purification of merozoites using Percoll-gradiation, and the protein compositions of merozoites were analyzed by two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting. The relative molecular masses of the major proteins and protein masses separated by electrophoresis were >94, 80-70, 50-45, 34-30, 30-28 and 18 kDa. By Western blotting, twelve proteins or protein groups were recognized by pooled sera from two horses experimentally infected with B. caballi. Among twelve proteins, five new proteins (54, 30-26, 24, and two 18 kDa) were identified, and the 48 kDa protein was revealed to consist of 2 components in the B. caballi merozoite. One protein (54 kDa) of B. caballi was also recognized by the pooled sera from two horses experimentally infected with B. equi.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Immunization with recombinant surface antigens p26 with Freund's adjuvants against Babesia rodhaini infection.

The surface proteins of Babesia rodhaini have previously been shown to induce a high degree of protective immunity. In the present study, one of those proteins, B. rodhaini antigen p26 was expressed in Escherichia coli and in insect cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus. These proteins were recognized by immune serum from a drug-cured BALB/c mouse. While BALB/c mice immunized with both recombinant antigens and Freund's adjuvants showed 40-100% survival rate against challenge infection with B. rodhaini, saponin failed to induce protection, although significant levels of B. rodhaini-specific antibodies were produced in both immunized mice (1:1,000-2,000 by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test). The immunization of IFN-gamma-deficient mice with the recombinant proteins was not protective against B. rodhaini infection, indicating that IFN-gamma is one of the important factors for the survival against lethal B. rodhaini infection.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Effects of intravenous theophylline, aminophylline and ethylenediamine on antigen-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs.

The antiasthmatic effect of i.v. injection of theophylline was compared with that of aminophylline by using an antigen-induced bronchoconstriction model in sensitized guinea pigs. Both theophylline and aminophylline showed dose-dependent inhibition of antigen-induced bronchoconstriction. Statistically significant differences were observed at theophylline doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg and at aminophylline doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg. Thus, antiasthmatic effects of both drugs appeared to be similar. In addition, intravenous ethylenediamine did not influence either airflow in normal guinea pigs or bronchoconstriction induced by antigen at doses up to 30 mg/kg. In conclusion, the ethylenediamine in aminophylline may not influence the antiasthmatic action of theophylline, and the therapeutic effects of theophylline and aminophylline are suggested to be similar.

Aminophylline↗
PubMed2000

A case report of sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma.

A sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma (SNTCS) is a rare and aggressive malignant neoplasm histologically characterized by the combination of one or more epithelial elements and mesenchymal components. We report a case of a 78-year-old man with SNTCS involving the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. He complained of epiphora and exophthalmos with weight loss. Physical and diagnostic images resulted T4N0M0. The tumor was completely and widely resected via a trans-facial approach to perform total maxillectomy with orbital exenteration. The clinical presentation, pathologic features, and clinical course are described with a review of the literature.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Morphological changes of Babesia gibsoni grown in canine red blood cell-substituted severe combined immune deficiency mice.

Canine red blood cell-substituted severe combined immune deficiency (Ca-RBC-SCID) mice were prepared for canine Babesia gibsoni infection. The Ca-RBC-SCID mice infected with B. gibsoni developed a high level of parasitemia, and showed clinical symptoms such as anemia and hemoglobinuria, which are similar to those observed in dogs infected with B. gibsoni. The B. gibsoni parasites grown in Ca-RBC-SCID mice showed marked morphological changes, including a significantly larger size of parasites than those in dogs and abundant RBCs containing 4, 8, 16, and 32 parasites. The multiple infection may have resulted from 1 parasite because the posterior end of each parasite in a multiply infected cell was connected. The parasites grown in SCID mice retained their infectivity and virulence to dogs and their morphology was dramatically restored to the original state when they were returned to dogs.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Multilocular pyogenic hepatic abscess complicating ascaris lumbricoides infestation.

A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with frequent right flank pain. The multiple multilocular hepatic abscesses were revealed by computed tomography. Radiographs following a barium meal showed a linear filling defect in the ileum consistent with ascariasis. One day after treatment with pyrantel pamoate, an Ascaris was passed in the stool. The pyogenic hepatic abscesses gradually healed with both antibiotics and continuous drainage. After 2 months, he was discharged. In this case, the pyogenic hepatic abscesses were thus considered to have been caused by an inflammation which spread through the portal vein.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[A case of Sjögren's syndrome complicated by polymyositis and sarcoidosis with HLA-B7 and DR 8: common causes of susceptibility for these diseases].

We describe a case of a Japanese patient initially presenting with Sjögren's syndrome who later developed polymyositis and sarcoidosis. A 67-year-old woman with a 4 month history of myalgia was admitted in April 1998 for examination. The patient had a 10 year history of symptoms consistent with Sjögren's syndrome. A diagnosis of polymyositis was made based on a biopsy of the muscle and an electromyogram. Positive Shirmer and Rose Bengal tests and results of a minor salivary gland biopsy were all consistent with Sjögren's syndrome. Chest computed tomography detected a bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy. Microscopic examination of a mediastinal lymph node demonstrated multiple noncaseating granulomas with multiple epithelioid cells and Langhans-like giant cells. A diagnosis of sarcoidosis was made based on these findings. Hepatitis C infection was also detected by elevated antibody levels. The patient was given 40 mg/day of oral prednisolone and a remission of her myositis and lymphadenopathy was obtained. The patient exhibited HLA-B7 and HLA-DR 8. HLA-DR 8 is commonly associated with these three disorders, and HLA-B7 is also associated with overlap syndrome in Japanese patients. The present case suggested the possibility of a common etiological background for these three disorders. Furthermore, the importance of genetic background, including HLA phenotype, in determining susceptibility to these disorders was demonstrated.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Regulation of cerebral microcirculation--update.

The present symposium during Brain 99 was convened to explore the current aspects of the neural (extrinsic and intrinsic) and chemical control of the microvasculature in the brain with specific relevance to stimuli and rapid flow responses. N. Suzuki demonstrated the presence of neurokinin-1 receptors along the axons of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing cerebrovascular parasympathetic nerves. Since the receptors were activated by substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide and neurokinin released from coexisting sensory nerve fibers, the parasympathetic (vasodilating) fibers could effect rapid local flow increases. N. Suzuki, however, considered this as part of an elaborate defensive network protecting the brain from invasions by noxious substances. E. Hamel discussed the responses of the microvessels to neurotransmitters and suggested that nitric oxide (NO) released from intrinsic neurons may serve as a relay in the flow activation responses by intracerebral cholinergic fibers originating in the basal forebrain nuclei. D. Busija summarized a vasodilating system of activated N-methyl-D-asparate receptors located on neurons involving Ca influx-NO production, and activated ATP-sensitive potassium channels located in the vascular system. According to Busija, such interactions were disrupted during hypoxia and ischemia due to cyclooxygenase-derived superoxide anion. M. Lauritzen observed a 10 times larger increase in blood flow on stimulation of the climbing nerve as compared with that following the parallel nerve stimulation. The former transmitters are considered by him to be NO and K, and the latter NO and adenosine. Each speaker singled out NO as a common mediator for the microvasculature in the rapid local flow increases.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Emotion space as a predictor of binocular rivalry.

In our 1999 report, we examined robustness of a two-dimensional structure of facial expressions of emotion under the condition of some perceptual ambiguity, using a stereo-scope. The current study aimed to replicate and extend the previous work by adding facial photographs of different persons and by measuring participants' perception of stereoscopically presented faces. Multidimensional scaling provided a two-dimensional configuration of facial expressions comparable with the previous studies. Although binocular rivalry was a less frequent phenomenon, it was suggested that the distances between facial expressions in the derived space were a contributing factor in eliciting binocular rivalry.

Emotions↗
PubMed2000

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Temperament and Character Inventory.

The Temperament and Character Inventory was translated into Japanese, and, to confirm the psychometric properties of the inventory, three samples were recruited from a nonpatient population. In nonpatient population A (N = 555), the full version (240 items) of the inventory with dichotomous measuring, along with the General Health Questionnaire and the Social Desirability Scale, were distributed to the subjects. Factor analyses of the subscales showed that the factor structure of the inventory was consistent with Cloninger's theory. Correlations of the scale scores with the General Health Questionnaire and the Social Desirability Scale scores were almost negligible, indicating that the scale is resistant to the current psychopathology and response bias. In this and the other two university student samples (ns = 395 and 377), Cronbach coefficients alpha of the scale scores were substantially high except for the short version (125 items) of the inventory with dichotomous measures. The Japanese version of the inventory appears to have internal reliability and content and construct validity in a Japanese population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Different mechanisms of acquired resistance to fluorinated pyrimidines in human colorectal cancer cells.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) and 5-trifluorothymidine (F3(d)Thd) are antimetabolites which are metabolized to their corresponding active forms which inhibit DNA synthesis via inhibition of thymidylate synthase (TS). To investigate ways of overcoming 5-FU-resistance, we established acquired-resistant colorectal cancer cell lines against these three drugs by continuous and step-wise escalation of drugs, and analyzed the cytotoxicity and the mechanism of resistance to the drugs. When cells were incubated with the 3 drugs for 72 h, the resistance ratio to parental DLD-1 human colorectal tumor cells was 65.2 for DLD-1/5-FU, 9.7 for DLD-1/FdUrd and 448.6 for DLD-1/F3(d)Thd cells. DLD-1/5-FU cells did not show any cross-resistance against FdUrd and F(3)dThd. However, DLD-1/FdUrd cells showed 3- and 9-fold increased resistance to 5-FU and F3(d)Thd, respectively, and DLD-1/F3(d)Thd cells also showed about 90-fold resistance to FdUrd. Analysis of enzyme activities and gene expression associated with pyrimidine metabolism indicated that a significant decrease in orotate phosphoribosyltransferase activity in DLD-1/5-FU cells, a 7-fold increase of TS mRNA in DLD-1/FdUrd cells, and a 37-fold decrease in thymidine kinase activity of DLD-1/F3(d)Thd cells were the major mechanisms of drug resistance. These findings were closely associated with the cytotoxicity of 5-FU, FdUrd and F3(d)Thd against the established 5-FU-, FdUrd- or F3(d)Thd-resistant cells. When DLD-1/FdUrd cells expressing increased TS mRNA were treated with FdUrd and F3(d)Thd for only 4 h, the resistance ratios of DLD-1/FdUrd cells to parental DLD-1 cells were markedly different for FdUrd and F3(d)Thd, suggesting that the cytotoxicity with short-time exposure to F3(d)Thd is due to a mechanism other than TS inhibition, although the cytotoxicity of F3(d)Thd in the short-time is low compared to that of long-time exposure. In conclusion, F3(d)Thd, an antimetabolite that inhibits TS activity, may be effective against 5-FU and/or FdUrd-resistance in colorectal cancer cells caused by amplification of TS and/or deletion of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed2000

[Development of the general affect scales].

This study aimed at developing a self-report instrument of general mood states which was brief and easy to administer for Japanese respondents. Four studies were conducted. In Study 1, we administered some existing mood questionnaires in order to select appropriate items from them. Factor analysis using oblique rotation yielded eight factors. Following Study 2 and 3, we developed an instrument called the General Affect Scales with three 8-item subscales: positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA), and calmness (CA). The reliability and the validity of each scale were then investigated. It was shown that the subscales except the CA are highly internally consistent and factorially valid. Finally, these subscales were compared with other mood scales in Study 4.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[The factor structure of relief feeling in situations: relief from tension and calmness and relaxation].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the subjective emotional states of 'feeling of relief (ANDO-KAN),' In Study 1, an open-ended questionnaire, with 64 subjects, found 127 concrete situations, in which they experienced feeling of relief. In Study 2, 182 subjects completed a questionnaire, which measured subjective arousal during the time they experienced relief. Results indicated that two distinct type of situation were related to feeling of relief: situation of relief from tension and that of calmness and relaxation. Tension was associated with the former, but not the latter; however, general deactivation characterized both types of situation. We concluded that feeling of relief probably consisted of two discrete subjective emotional states, and that they could be explained in terms of distinct arousal states.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Increased expression of S100A6 (Calcyclin), a calcium-binding protein of the S100 family, in human colorectal adenocarcinomas.

The expression of S100A6 (also known as Calcyclin/2A9/ 5B10/PRA) in surgically resected human colorectal adenocarcinomas was examined to investigate whether S100A6 plays a role in the malignancy of human tumor cells. Western blot analysis using the lysates from colorectal adenocarcinomas and adjacent normal mucosa from 10 patients revealed that the average S100A6 level of adenocarcinomas was significantly higher (about 2.4-fold) than that of normal mucosa. Immunohistochemical analysis using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded surgical specimens and monoclonal anti-S100A6 antibody (mAbA6) demonstrated that 2(5%) of 42 normal mucosa and 6 (46%) of 13 adenoma specimens were mAbA6-positive and showed granular staining localized at the supranuclear regions of epithelial cells, whereas 23 (55%) of 42 adenocarcinomas and 13 (100%) of 13 carcinoma cells that metastasized to the liver were mAbA6-positive and showed diffuse cytoplasmic staining. A significant correlation between S100A6 expression and Dukes' tumor stage or lymphatic permeation but not with other clinicopathological factors was shown. S100A6 was stained more intensely in peripheral portions than in central portions of adenocarcinomas, whereas Ki-67 (a growth marker) was stained equally in these two portions. These results suggest that S100A6 may be involved in the progression and invasive process of human colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗